Integrated riot vest

ABSTRACT

An integrated riot vest including a riot shell, a first carrier, a first envelope, and a second envelope. The riot shell having an impact resistant layer and adapted to be worn on a torso of a user with an inner side proximate the user and an opposing outer side. The first carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side secured to the riot shell, wherein the outer side of the first carrier is proximate the inner side of the riot shell. The first envelope located between the outer side of the first carrier and the inner side of the riot shell. The second envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the first carrier and having a second envelope opening located on the inner side of the first carrier.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/568,818 filed on Oct. 6, 2017 (Attorney Docket No.: 3402.00002) and titled Integrated Riot Vest, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for providing riot gear protection. More specifically, the present invention is related to a riot gear vest with integrated ballistic plate carriers and thermal pack carriers.

BACKGROUND

Standard equipment for peace officers includes the wearing of an undershirt or turtleneck, a ballistic soft body armor vest, and a police uniform shirt over the vest. The body armor vest includes a carrier, two armor panels, and attachable/detachable fasteners, typically hook and loop fasteners. One armor panel fits into a front carrier through an opening in the bottom of the front carrier and the other armor panel fits into a rear carrier through an opening in the bottom of the rear carrier. The attachable/detachable fasteners attach the front and rear carriers together around the wearers waist and over the shoulders to form the vest. The body armor vest traps excess body heat around the torso in warm weather and is uncomfortable due to the constant compression and weight of the armor. It is also very inconvenient to remove the body armor carrier prior to the conclusion of the wearer's shift. Therefore, there exists a need for a body armor vest which is comfortable, easy to wear, and adaptive to ambient temperatures.

This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to an integrated riot vest including a riot shell, a first carrier, a first envelope, and a second envelope. The riot shell may have an impact resistant layer and be adapted to be worn on a torso of a user with an inner side proximate the user and an opposing outer side. The first carrier may have an inner side and an opposing outer side and be secured to the riot shell. The outer side of the first carrier may be proximate the inner side of the riot shell. The first envelope may be located between the outer side of the first carrier and the inner side of the riot shell. The second envelope may be formed between the inner side and the outer side of the first carrier and may have a second envelope opening located on the inner side of the first carrier.

The first carrier may be removably secured to the riot shell.

A fastener may be disposed along an entirety of the second envelope opening and adapted to close the second envelope opening.

The integrated riot vest may further include a groin protector, a first securing extension, and a second securing extension. The first securing extension may be fixedly attached to a first side of the riot shell. The second securing extension may be fixedly attached to a second side of the riot shell and adapted to removably secure to the first securing extension and the groin protector.

The integrated riot vest may still further include a thermal pack carrier having a thermal pack envelope adapted to carry a thermal pack. The thermal pack carrier may be adapted to selectively secure to the inner side of the riot shell, be carried within the first envelope, or be carried within the second envelope.

The riot shell of the integrated riot vest may include a front portion and a back portion. The front portion may be adapted to cover a front side of the torso of the user. The back portion may be adapted to cover a back side of the torso of the user and secure to the front portion at two shoulder attachment locations

The integrated riot vest may still further include a second carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side secured to the back portion of the riot shell. The outer side of the second carrier may be proximate the inner side of the back portion of the riot shell. The first carrier may be secured to the front portion of the riot shell.

The second carrier may be removably secured to the back portion of the riot shell.

The integrated riot vest may yet further include third and fourth securing members. The third securing member may be located along an edge of the back portion of the riot shell. The fourth securing member may be secured to the second carrier and adapted to mate with the third securing member.

The integrated riot vest may further include a third envelope located between the outer side of the second carrier and the inner side of the back portion.

The integrated riot vest may still further include a fourth envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the second carrier and having a fourth envelope opening located on the inner side of the second carrier.

A fastener may be disposed along an entirety of the fourth envelope opening and may be adapted to close the fourth envelope opening.

The integrated riot vest may further include a first securing member located along an edge of the riot shell and a second securing member secured to the first carrier and adapted to mate with the first securing member.

The first securing member may include a first half a zipper chain and the second securing member may include a second half zipper chain adapted to mate with the first half zipper chain.

The first carrier may be adapted to removably carry a ballistic plate.

The first envelope may be adapted to removably carry a ballistic plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the integrated riot suit worn by a user.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the integrated riot vest of the integrated riot suit f FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the front portion of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the front portion of FIG. 4 with the front integrated carrier of FIG. 8 removed.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the back portion of tie integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the back portion of FIG. 6 with the rear integrated carrier of FIG. 10 removed.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the front integrated carrier of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of the front integrated carrier of FIG. 8

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the rear integrated carrier of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the rear integrated carrier of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the groin protector of the integrated riot suit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view of the groin protector of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the thigh protector of the integrated riot suit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a rear elevation view of the thigh protector of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the right thigh protector of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the outer side of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the inner side of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the inner side of the front portion of FIG. 4 in combination with the front integrated carrier of FIG. 8.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the inner side of the rear portion of FIG. 6 in combination with the rear integrated carrier of FIG. 10.

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of a medium thermal pack carrier of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view of the medium thermal pack carrier of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a front elevation view of the small thermal pack of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 24 is a front elevation view of a large thermal pack carrier of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 3.

FIG. 25 is a rear elevation view of the large thermal pack carrier of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a front elevation view of the large thermal pack of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 27 is a front elevation view of a small thermal pack carrier of the integrated riot vest of FIG. 2.

FIG. 28 is a rear elevation view of the small thermal pack carrier of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a rear elevation view of the small thermal pack of FIG. 23 partially inserted in the small thermal pack carrier of FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the invention.

In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.

An embodiment of the invention, as shown and described by the various figures and accompanying text, provides an integrated riot suit 200, which includes an integrated riot vest 100, groin protector 122, and thigh protectors 123. The integrated riot vest 100 may include a riot shell 101, one or more integrated carriers 102, 103, and one or more thermal pack carriers 104. The riot shell 101 may include a vest worn on the torso of a user. The riot shell 101 may be adapted to prevent harm to the wearer due to impact forces. The riot shell 101 may be a vest adapted to protect a wearer's torso, with impact resistant elements on an outer surface. The riot shell 101 may have a front portion 111 adapted to cover the front side of a user's torso, and a back portion 112 adapted to cover the back side of the user's torso. The front portion 111 may be connected to the back portion 112 at two different attachment points, one located on or near each of the users shoulders. The attachment points may be adapted to form a passageway therebetween, through which, the user's head may be positioned when the integrated riot vest 100 is worn. Both the front portion 111 and back portion 112 of the riot shell 101 may have inner and outer sides. The inner sides may be the sides facing the wearer when the garment is worn. The outer sides may oppose the inner sides and face away from the wearer when the garment is worn. In one embodiment, the riot shell 101 may include an impact resistant, rigid material layer. The outer sides of both the front portion 111 and the back portion 112 of the riot shell 131 may be at least partially covered may an impact resistant, rigid material. In such an embodiment, the impact resistant layer may form an outer layer.

The inner side of both the front portion 111 and the back portion 112 of the riot shell 101 may include a material covered in hooks or loops, adapted to secure to an adjacent material covered in loops or hooks. A zipper half may be located along an edge of the front portion 111 or back portion 112 of the riot shell 101. A zipper half may be disposed along one or more sections of each of the bottom edge 105 of the front portion 111 or the bottom edge 106 of the back portion 112. The zipper halves may be located along an entirety or a portion of the bottom edges 105, 106 Zipper halves may be located on upper or side edges of both portions 111, 112 as well. The zipper halves may run continuously around the edge of the portions 111, 112 or there may be discrete sections of zipper located on the edges. In one embodiment, a single zipper half 107 may run around the perimeter of the front portion 111 and may be located on an inner side of the front portion 111. In one embodiment, a plurality of zipper halves 124, 125, 126 may be located along the perimeter of the back portion 112 and may be located on an inner side of the back portion 112.

Each of the front integrated carrier 102 and the rear integrated carrier 103 may be adapted to carry at least one ballistic plate. The integrated carriers 102, 103 may each include an envelope adapted to carry at least one ballistic plate. The front integrated carrier 102 may be identical to the rear integrated carrier 103 or the carriers 102, 103 may be configured differently. In one embodiment, at least one of the integrated carriers 102, 103 may be adapted to carry a primary ballistic plate as well as two secondary ballistic plates. In such a configuration, the primary ballistic plate may be adapted to cover the front or rear portion of the wearer's torso while the secondary ballistic plates may be adapted to cover sides of the wearer's torso. The integrated carriers 102, 103 may have discrete envelopes for each ballistic plate carried therein.

In one embodiment, the front integrated carrier 102 may carry a front ballistic plate. The front ballistic plate may be carried in an envelope 113 formed in the front integrated carrier 102. The envelope 113 may formed between an inner side 108 and an outer side 109 of the front integrated carrier 102. The inner side 108 may be made of a first section of material and the outer side 109 may be made of a second section of material. The inner side 10 of the front integrated carrier 102 may be closer to the wearer's body than the outer side 109 when the carrier 102 is attached to the front portion 111 of the integrated riot vest 100 and it is worn by a user. The outer side 109 may oppose the inner side 108. The outer side 109 may include hook or loop covered material adapted to secure to opposing loop or hook covered material secured to the inner side of the front portion 111. An entirety or portions of the outer side 109 of the front integrated carrier 102 and inner side of the front portion 111 may be covered by complementary hook or loop material.

The front integrated carrier 102 may have a perimeter profile substantially similar to the perimeter profile of the front portion 111 of the riot shell 101. A zipper half 110 may be located on an outer edge of the front integrated carrier 102. The zipper half on the front integrated carrier 102 may be adapted to mate with the zipper half 107 located on the front portion 111 of the riot shell 101. A zipper half 110 may be located continuously around an edge of the front integrated carrier 102 or along portions of the perimeter or edge of the front integrated carrier 102. In one embodiment, a first zipper half 110 may be located along a bottom edge of the front integrated carrier 102, a second zipper half 110 may be located along a first side, a third zipper half 110 may be located along a second side, and a fourth zipper half 110 may be located along a top side. Mating zipper halves may be located on corresponding locations of the front portion 111 of the riot shell 101. In another embodiment, a single zipper half 110 may be located continuously around the perimeter of the front integrated carrier 102.

In one embodiment, the rear integrated carrier 103 may carry a rear ballistic plate. The rear ballistic plate may be carried in a main envelope 127 of the rear integrated carrier 103. The main envelope 127 may formed between an inner side 115 and an outer side 116 of the rear integrated carrier 103. The inner side 115 may be made of a first section of material and the outer side 116 may be made of a second section of material. The inner side 115 of the rear integrated carrier 103 may be closer to the wearer's body than the outer side 116 when the integrated riot vest 100 is worn by a user. The outer side 116 may oppose the inner side 115. The outer side 116 may include hook or loop covered material adapted to secure to opposing loop or hook covered material. The inner side of the back portion 112 of the riot shell 101 may include hook or loop covered material adapted to secure to the rear integrated carrier 103. An entirety or portions of the outer side 116 of the rear integrated carrier 103 and inner side of the rear portion 112 may be covered by complementary hook or loop material.

The rear integrated carrier 103 may have a profile substantially similar to the profile of the back portion 112 of the riot shell 101..E zipper half may be located on an outer edge of the rear integrated carrier 103. The zipper half on the rear integrated carrier 103 may be adapted to mate with the zipper half located on the back portion 112 of the riot shell 101. A zipper half may be located continuously around an edge of the rear integrated carrier 103 or along portions of the edge of the rear integrated carrier 103. In one embodiment, a first zipper half 117 may be located along a bottom edge of the rear integrated carrier 102, a second zipper half 118 may be located along a top left side, and a third zipper half 114 may be located along a top right side. Mating zipper halves may be located on corresponding locations of the back portion 112 of the riot shell 101. In another embodiment, a single zipper half may be located continuously around the perimeter of the rear integrated carrier 103, with a corresponding mating zipper half located continuously around the perimeter of the back portion 112.

The front integrated carrier 102 may be secured to the front portion 111 of the riot shell 101 and the rear integrated carrier 103 may be secured to the back portion 112 of the riot shell 101 using either or both of the zipper or hook and loop fabric. The front integrated carrier 102 may provide an envelope 113 in which to carry a front ballistic plate or a thermal pack. The rear side of the envelope 113 may be formed by the outer side 109 of the front integrated carrier 102 while the front side of the envelope 113 may be formed by the inner side 108 of the front integrated carrier 102. The rear integrated carrier 103 may provide an envelope 127 in which to carry a rear ballistic plate or a thermal pack. The rear side of the envelope 127 may be formed by the outer side of the rear integrated carrier 103 while the front side of the envelope 127 may be formed by the inner side of the rear integrated carrier 103. The rear sides of the envelopes 113, 127 may be formed from continuous pieces of fabric. The front sides of the envelopes 113, 127 may have openings through which the ballistic plates or thermal packs may be inserted or removed. The openings may be secured in a closed position using a fastener, including but not limited to, hooks and loops, zippers, buttons, snaps, or the like. The openings may be formed by two overlapping pieces of material, which form the inner side 108 of the front integrated carrier 102 and secure to one another with hooks and loops.

Multiple envelopes may be formed in the front integrated carrier 102 or the rear integrated carrier 103. In one embodiment, the front integrated carrier 102, rear integrated carrier 103, or both may have one or more envelopes with structure as previously described. A main envelope may be located in between or adjacent a secondary envelope. The main envelope may be adapted to cover a front or back of a wearer's torso while the secondary envelope may be adapted to cover a side of the wearer's torso. Secondary envelopes may be smaller than the main envelope. Ballistic plates carried by the secondary envelopes may be smaller than ballistic plates carried by the main envelopes, in embodiments with secondary envelopes, a seam or like partition may be formed in the carriers 102, 103 to separate each envelope from adjacent envelopes. Additionally, seams or like partitions may be formed in the carriers 102, 103 to define the perimeter of the envelopes.

One or more thermal pack carriers 104 may be adapted to carry respective thermal packs 119. The one or more thermal packs 119 may be adapted to retain and to radiate a temperature designed to cool or warm the wearer as appropriate. In warm environments, it may be desirable for the thermal pack 119 to be refrigerated or frozen prior to use. While worn, the thermal pack 119 may radiate coolness designed to lower the wearer's temperature. In cold environments, it may be desirable for the thermal pack 119 to be heated prior to use. While worn, the thermal pack 119 may radiate warmth designed to raise the wearer's temperature. The use of a thermal pack 119 may make the wearer more comfortable or allow the wearer to perform for longer durations while wearing the integrated riot vest 100.

Each thermal pack carrier 104 may include an inner side 121 and an opposing outer side 120, which form an envelope therebetween. One of the sides 120, 121 may be formed of a continuous material while the other side may have an opening located in it and adapted to allow the thermal pack 119 to pass through and enter or exit the envelope. One or both of the inner side 121 and the outer side 120 may have a hook or loop covered fabric located thereon. The hook or loop covered fabric may be adapted to secure to corresponding loop or hook covered fabric located on a front integrated carrier 102 or rear integrated carrier 103. One or more thermal pack carriers 104 may be secured to the inner side of the riot shell 101 on either the front portion 111 or back portion 112 using fasteners. In one embodiment hooks or loops located on the inner side of the riot shell 101 may mate with loops or hooks located on the thermal pack carrier 104. The thermal pack carrier 104 may be carried by an envelope formed in the front integrated carrier 102 or the rear integrated carrier 103.

A front integrated carrier 102 or rear integrated carrier 103 may be secured to the riot shell 101 creating a three layer system of, moving from inside to outside, thermal pack, ballistic plate, riot shell. The layering of the thermal pack and ballistic plate may be swapped to create a three layer system of, moving from inside to outside, ballistic plate, thermal pack, riot shell. This configuration allows the wearer to be protected by both ballistic and riot gear while also providing temperature regulation. The modularity of the system allows the wearer to include either ballistic protection, thermal regulation, or both based upon the particular needs of the wearer. Additionally, the securing devices used in the system allow the integrated riot vest 100 to be assembled into a single component before being donned by the wearer.

In one embodiment, portions of the inner side of the front portion 111 and the back portion 112 of the riot vest 100 may be covered in loops. The outer side of one or more thermal pack carriers 104 may be covered in hooks, which may secure directly to the loops of the front portion 111 or back portion 112. Portions of an outer side of the front integrated carrier 102 and an outer side of the rear integrated carrier 103 may be covered with hooks, which may secure to the loops on the inner sides of the front portion 111 and back portion 112. The front integrated carrier 102 may secure to the front portion 111 along a perimeter forming an envelope therebetween, in which the thermal pack carrier 104 may be carried. The rear integrated carrier 103 may secure to the back portion 112 along a perimeter forming an envelope therebetween, in which the thermal pack carrier 104 may be carried. An envelope may be located between the inner side 108 and outer side 109 of the front integrated carrier 102, in which a ballistic plate may be carrier. An envelope may be located between the inner side 115 and outer side 116 of the rear integrated carrier 103, in which a ballistic plate may be carrier. Additionally, the ballistic plates may be carried between the inner side of the riot shell and the outer side of the front integrated carrier 102 or rear integrated carrier 103. The thermal pack carrier 104 may be carried in the envelope formed between the inner and outer sides of the front or rear integrated carriers.

In one embodiment, the front integrated carrier 102 or the rear integrated carrier 103 may include ballistic plate material. In such an embodiment the carriers 102, 103 may not include an envelope to carry a ballistic plate.

The integrated riot suit 200 may also include a groin protector 122. The groin protector 122 may be secured to the front portion 111 of the riot shell 101 along a lower edge with hook and loop fasteners. The back portion 112 of the riot shell 101 may have securing extensions 128. The securing extensions 128 may be secured to opposing sides of the back portion 114 on a lower portion of the back portion 111. The securing extensions 128 may be configured to wrap around the user and secure to the outer side of the front portion 111 when the vest 100 is worn by a user. The securing extensions 128 may have loops on an inner surface and hooks on opposing outer surfaces. One of the securing extensions 128 may not have hooks on its outer surface. The inner surfaces of the securing extensions 128 may be adapted to secure to hooks on the outer surface of the front portion 111 or the outer surface of the groin protector 122. In embodiments of the suit 200 without the groin protector 122, a first securing extension 128 may secure to the front portion 111 and the second securing extension 128 may layer over the first securing extension 128 and secure thereto. In embodiments of the suit 200 with the groin protector 122, the groin protector 122 an upper portion with hooks on an outer side and loops on an opposing inner side. The loops of the groin protector 122 may secure directly to the hooks on a lower part of the outer side of the front portion 111. The first securing extension 128 may layer on the groin protector 122 and the second securing extension 128 may layer on the first securing extension 128. In another configuration, the first securing extension 128 may secure to hooks on the outer side of the front portion 111, the loops of the groin protector 122 may secure to hooks on the first securing extension 128, and the second securing extension 128 may layer on the groin protector 122, sandwiching the groin protector 122 between the first and second securing extensions 128.

Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the description of the invention. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. An integrated riot vest comprising: a riot shell having an impact resistant layer and adapted to be worn on a torso of a user with an inner side proximate the user and an opposing outer side; a first carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side secured to the riot shell, wherein the outer side of the first carrier is proximate the inner side of the riot shell; a first envelope located between the outer side of the first carrier and the inner side of the riot shell; and a second envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the first carrier and having a second envelope opening located on the inner side of the first carrier.
 2. The integrated riot vest of claim 2 wherein the first carrier is removably secured to the riot shell.
 3. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 wherein a fastener is disposed along an entirety of the second envelope opening and adapted to close the second envelope opening.
 4. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 further comprising: a groin protector; a first securing extension fixedly attached to a first side of the riot shell; and second securing extension fixedly attached to a second side of the riot shell and adapted to removably secure directly to the first securing attachment and the groin protector.
 5. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 further comprising a thermal pack carrier having a thermal pack envelope adapted to carry a thermal pack, wherein the thermal pack carrier is adapted to selectively secure to the inner side of the riot shell, be carried within the first envelope, or be carried within the second envelope.
 6. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 wherein the riot shell comprises: a front portion adapted to cover a front side of the torso of the user; and a back portion adapted to cover a back side of the torso of the user and secure to the front portion at two shoulder attachment locations.
 7. The integrated riot vest of claim 6 further comprising: a second carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side secured to the back portion of the riot shell, wherein the outer side of the second carrier is proximate the inner side of the back portion of the riot shell; and wherein the first carrier is secured to the front portion of the riot shell.
 8. The integrated riot vest of claim 7 wherein the second carrier is removably secured to the back portion of the riot shell.
 9. The integrated riot vest of claim 8 further comprising: a third securing member located along an edge of the back portion of the riot shell; and a fourth securing member secured to the second carrier and adapted to mate with the third securing member.
 10. The integrated riot vest of claim 7 further comprising: a third envelope located between the outer side of the second carrier and the inner side of the back portion.
 11. The integrated riot vest of claim 10 further comprising: a fourth envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the second carrier and having a fourth envelope opening located on the inner side of the second carrier.
 12. The integrated riot vest of claim 11 wherein a fastener is disposed along an entirety of the fourth envelope opening adapted to dose the fourth envelope opening.
 13. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 further comprising: a first securing member located along an edge of the riot shell; and a second securing member secured to the first carrier and adapted to mate with the first securing member.
 14. The integrated riot vest of claim 13 therein the first securing member comprises a first half a zipper chain and the second securing member comprises a second half zipper chain adapted to mate with the first half zipper chain.
 15. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 wherein the first carrier is adapted to removably carry a ballistic plate.
 16. The integrated riot vest of claim 1 wherein the first envelope is adapted to removably carry a ballistic plate.
 17. An integrated riot vest comprising: a front portion having an impact resistant layer adapted to cover a front side of the torso of a user with an inner front portion side proximate the user and an opposing outer front portion side; a back portion having an impact resistant layer adapted to cover a back side of the torso of the user with an inner back portion side proximate the user and an opposing outer back portion side, wherein the back portion is secured to the front portion at two shoulder attachment locations; a first carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side secured to the front portion, wherein the outer side of the first carrier is proximate the inner side of the front portion; a first envelope located between the outer side of the first carrier and the inner side of the front portion; a second envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the first carrier and having a second envelope opening located on the inner side of the first carrier; a second carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side secured to the back portion, wherein the outer side of the second carrier is proximate the inner side of the back portion; a third envelope located between the outer side of the second carrier and the inner side of the back portion; and a fourth envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the second carrier and having a fourth envelope opening located on the inner side of the second carrier.
 18. The integrated riot vest of claim 17 further comprising: a groin protector; a first securing extension fixedly attached to a first side of the front portion; and a second securing extension fixedly attached to a second side of the front portion and adapted to removably secure to the first securing extension and the groin protector.
 19. The integrated riot vest of claim 17 further comprising a thermal pack carrier having a thermal pack envelope and adapted to selectively secure to the inner side of the front portion, secure to the inner side of the back portion, be carried within the first envelope, be carried within the second envelope, be carried within the third envelope, or be carried within the fourth envelope.
 20. An integrated riot vest comprising: a riot shell having an impact resistant layer and adapted to be worn on a torso of a user with an inner side proximate the user and an opposing outer side; first carrier having an inner side and an opposing outer side, wherein the first carrier is removably secured to the riot shell with the outer side of the first carrier proximate the inner side of the riot shell; a first envelope located between the outer side of the first carrier and the inner side of the riot shell; a second envelope formed between the inner side and the outer side of the first carrier and having a second envelope opening located on the inner side of the first carrier; a first securing member located along an edge of the riot shell; and a second securing member secured to the first carrier and adapted to mate with the first securing member; a groin protector; a first securing extension fixedly attached to a first side of the riot shell; a second securing extension fixedly attached to a second side of the riot shell and adapted to removably secure to the first securing extension and the groin protector; and a thermal pack carrier having a thermal pack envelope and adapted to selectively secure to the inner side of the riot shell, be carried within the first envelope, or be carried within the second envelope. 